ع
The GCC General Secretariat reported that Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi held talks with Luigi Di Maio on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The two reviewed the trajectory of GCC-EU relations while examining preparations for the second leaders’ summit scheduled to take place in Riyadh next month. Discussions further addressed progress in executing outcomes from the first such summit along with operational mechanisms to advance the strategic partnership between the two sides.
According to the GCC General Secretariat the officials exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments during their meeting in New York. The statement from the secretariat highlighted several topics of mutual interest with an emphasis on strengthening coordination and consultation. Both sides affirmed the importance of these mechanisms in contributing to security stability and sustainable development across the regions.
The inaugural GCC-EU summit took place in Brussels in October 2024 where the parties issued a joint statement on strategic partnership for peace and prosperity according to records from the GCC General Secretariat. A follow-up joint ministerial meeting occurred in Kuwait in October 2025 to implement the agreed initiatives. The relationship rests on a cooperation agreement the two blocs signed in 1989 that was later reinforced in 2022 with the creation of the EU special representative post for the Gulf.
Jasem Albudaiwi has engaged repeatedly with Luigi Di Maio across multiple international gatherings throughout 2025 and 2026 the GCC General Secretariat noted in its compilation of engagements. Earlier meetings have touched on regional security matters including the need to protect maritime corridors and maintain stability in global energy markets. The EU side has conveyed solidarity with GCC member states in response to various regional threats in prior joint readouts.
Preparations for the Riyadh summit include agenda items aimed at deepening economic cooperation and reviving long-stalled free trade agreement talks that received fresh impetus after the 2024 leaders’ meeting a European Union overview indicated. Collaboration spans trade climate policy security coordination and sustainable development projects. The September 22 meeting in New York forms part of sustained high-level contact intended to maintain momentum ahead of the summit.
The GCC bloc serves as an important economic and strategic partner for the EU in the Middle East with trade volumes expanding steadily over recent years according to figures compiled by the European Commission. The partnership has broadened from its original economic focus to address wider geopolitical shifts and shared challenges. Regular engagements such as the one in New York underscore the priority both sides place on structured dialogue.
